NASA's IMAP Mission: Mapping the Heliosphere to Understand Our Solar System's Protective Bubble
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science and Technology (Space Technology, Space Missions - IMAP, Aditya-L1, NASA; Basic Physics - Solar Wind, Cosmic Rays, Lagrange Points).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3 (S&T): Awareness in the fields of Space; Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Key Highlights from the News
To study the heliosphere, the protective shield around the solar system, the American space agency NASA launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission.
Main objectives of the mission:
Map the heliosphere’s boundary.
Study the energetic particles in the solar wind coming from the Sun.
Improve space weather forecasting.
This satellite will be positioned at Lagrange point 1 (L1), a strategic location between the Sun and Earth, 1.6 million kilometers from Earth. 🛰️
Since the gravitational forces at the L1 point are balanced, the satellite can maintain a stable orbit with minimal fuel.
This mission will help to better understand the heliosphere's role in maintaining the habitability of Earth and other planets.
Predicting space weather is essential to protect Earth's satellites, communication systems, and power grids from solar radiation.
COMMENTS